Description: Improvements along Providence Road in front of Douglass Park and High School. The project includes sidewalk infrastructure, fencing, landscaping and turf improvements. The project will also include a memorial to Beulah Ralph, consisting of a small paver patio, memorial plaque and two benches that will be funded by donations.

Interested Parties Meeting(s): (Excerpt from April 15, 2013 Council Memo)
"Parks and Recreation staff (planners and administration) held public meetings as far back as November 2011 to discuss safety and security improvements for the park. (See Master Plan IP Meetings.) Park planners later began meeting during the summer of 2012 to start initial discussions about the proposed Providence Road renovations and identify needed improvements at the high school. After multiple meetings, a concept plan was distributed to staff members of Columbia Public Schools, the PedNet Coalition, the Housing Authority, Columbia Public Works and MODOT. Discussions centered around which sidewalks would be removed and/or saved as well as how to buffer the traffic on Providence Road from the new sidewalks and Douglass High School. A recommendation was made to incorporate a small seating area and memorial bench for Beulah Ralph. Funds for the Beulah Ralph Memorial will be funded by others at a later date. Other recommendations included new fencing around the school parking lot that would match existing fencing at the Housing Authority property."

Project Notes: Project was approved at the May 6, 2013 Council Meeting. An ordinance to accept and appropriate the donations for the Beulah Ralph Memorial was approved at the July 1, 2013 Council Meeting. PedNet conducted a pedestrian survey on site and requested the project not proceed until the survey was completed - after June 17, 2013.

Project Status: Project completed. Columbia Public Schools hosted an event at Douglass High School to unveil the Beulah Ralph Memorial on October 29, 2013.

New sidewalk and landscaping in front of Douglass HIgh School
(Photo taken 10-28-13)

Beulah Ralph memorial area
(Photo taken 10-29-13)

Memorial plaque for Beulah Ralph
(Photo taken 10-29-13)

Beulah Ralph Memorial unveiling ceremony at Douglass High School
(Photo taken 10-29-13)